
The Penan of Sarawak, who were once a nomadic hunter-gatherer society, are like any other indigenous tribal society in Sarawak today. They have experienced intensively the effects of modernity. They are sent to school and made to join the mainstream workforce and turned into village dwellers. Many of them know the importance of education for their children and have made efforts to keep their children in school despite the financial burden that they face.
However, they face a greater challenge in coping with modernity due to the fact that their exposure to it comes much later compared to other tribal groups. Although there is a danger that their traditional culture might one day disappear, there is still a glimmer of hope. The younger generation is where the future of the Penan lay their hopes. Exposure to their traditional way of life by the elders might ignite in them a desire to know and to find out more about themselves as a people. It is hoped that the Penan can adapt and adopt in order to survive and thrive in the 21st century.